Chili Tofu

Description

Tofu, also known as soya bean curd is a cheese like product obtained from curdling soy milk, a staple food in China and Japan. Its becoming more and more aware these days due to its immense health benefits. A good alternative for meat with excellent source of protein with no fat.Cooking tofu for vegetarians will not be a big issue as most vegetarian products are soy based and they may easily adjust to the taste. But inculcating this product in a regular diet for a non-vegetarian is little challenging. Unless prepared fancy or crypt-ed its going to be pushed to the side of the plate. My first attempt “Chili Tofu” was quite successful, our guest Mr.Tofu enjoyed quite a bit of hospitality.

Instructions

How to select Tofu: This product comes in variety of consistency. Firm, extra firm, silken and much more. For any stir-fry dishes, firm or extra firm will work well and they will tend to stay as cubed without breaking much. Silken soft variety is used for pastries, baking , thickening soups and gravies. These are usually easily available in most grocery markets, packed in the form of bricks or mini blocks in freezer section.

Once the box is opened, you can see little blocks of tofu stored in water, take whats necessary and store the rest tightly sealed in the inner most part of your refrigerator. They usually stay good for 5 to 6 days. You may have to change the water every 2 days. Normally every box will be packed with 80 to 90 tiny ones, I used half the box. Place them on a paper towel to drain all the water content.

This is how they look… almost like our paneer cubes but tasteless. Tofu are kind of porous and they tend to suck all flavour in which its incorporated. So a better way to cook them is by deep frying / shallow frying or dry frying and then marinating. This way the outer skin tend to stay firm and inner portion will be soft and flavourful. Adding them plain without any frying and marination will also work but will taste bland.

Shallow fry them in a small pan with oil until the skin turns light brown.

My Indo-Chinese marinade (table-2) with soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger garlic, sugar and black pepper powder is all set for the fried tofu to take a dip. Once fried, drop them in the sauce and you will be surprised to see those thirsty porous tofu blocks absorbing the moisture. Let them bathe for 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile chop your veggies and start heating a frying pan with little oil. Add the onions, green chilies, bell peppers, ginger, garlic and toss for few minutes over medium flame. Add the marinated tofu with leftover sauce and start adding soy sauce, red chili sauce, green chili sauce and salt. Toss until it becomes dry and garnish with green onions. Adding more of sauce will yield slightly chunky style gravy. Mine is prepared as a dry item, suits for chapati, tortilla roll ups, filling for pita pockets or as an appetizer for any Indo-Chinese style menu.

Notes

Rice vinegar is optional you may also use few drops of regular white vinegar or lime juice.

5 Comments

Dear Mullai, we just had this dish for lunch with Peas pulav.. It was delicious.. I have never tasted tofu before, and was always prejudiced that it will not taste good. First time I tried and now, I have changed my policy 😉 Thanks for the dish as well as for introducing tofu in a tasty way into our diet..

Uma, tomato sauce is not necessary, it makes it sweet and little sticky, almost gives a Manchurian consistency. Its up to you… I liked mine spicy and dry, so skipped. All these Indo -Chinese dishes as well as their names are all made up, just fancy mostly like a merry go round with soy sauce and variety chili sauces. Adding this and that here and there will not affect it much, just the consistency looks different. Adding colour, MSG are also some options. So.. just play with it and adjust according to your taste.

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Welcome to spiceindiaonline.com your ultimate source for Indian recipes online. I am Mullai Madavan, who is cooking and curating content for this portal. Hope you enjoy my collection and thanks for visiting my space.
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